Manager Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's formation due to media scrutiny would have signaled "the end" for him.
In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to deploy an standard four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.
He himself conceded this ultimately functioned as a back six in the closing phase as his squad clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.
While he once famously remarked that not even the Pope could force him to adjust his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with alternative setups has remained part of his long-term vision.
However, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were doing at an acceptable level - or else it would seem as if he was giving in to external pressure.
"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I didn't possess the players to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a journey," he commented.
"We were trying to forge an philosophy. Today is a separate juncture. We lack a lot of players, and we have to be flexible, so they see the reason we are switching things up.
"This isn't because of the pressure of the media, or the fans.
"Whenever you criticize altering the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the end for the manager.
"Only when we are playing well in our preferred setup, that is the moment to evolve.
"We will become a better team because when our full complement of personnel are available, we are not intending to use a back three all the time."
Injury Challenges Persist
Having just two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been in good form.
He is, nonetheless, managing with a depleted roster, with seven senior stars already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.
That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his boss to let him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.
"Bruno is already telling me he needs to train," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Leadership Remains
However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be deeply engaged, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim expects his captain to continue offering input.
"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always vocal. That's why he's the skipper.
"He has flaws sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.
"I don't know if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Recovery Schedule for Key Players
While the specific timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.
